Bettman ex rel. Tax Comm v. American Missionary Ass'n

12 Ohio Law. Abs. 13, 1932 Ohio Misc. LEXIS 1320
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedFebruary 5, 1932
DocketNo 216
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 12 Ohio Law. Abs. 13 (Bettman ex rel. Tax Comm v. American Missionary Ass'n) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Bettman ex rel. Tax Comm v. American Missionary Ass'n, 12 Ohio Law. Abs. 13, 1932 Ohio Misc. LEXIS 1320 (Ohio Ct. App. 1932).

Opinion

ROBERTS, J.

We think we may most directly approach the real issue in the case and matters complained of as constituting error in this case by referring to the contentions of the Tax Commission as presented in its brief. They are as follows:

1st. That the American Missionary Association is not a public institution of learning as defined in §5334, GC.
2nd. That said Association, with respect to its educational work, is not carrying on said educational work in the State of New York, and that therefore is not “within the State which does not impose, etc.”
3rd. That since the said Association piay use its funds, and specifically the bequest in the present case, for missionary or religious purposes, at the discretion of its Executive Committee, and the proportion used for educational purposes may be reduced to a minimum, the-said institution is not an “institution of learning” as contemplated by §5334 GC.

Proceeding now to a consideration of the first proposition, which reads, as follows: “That the American Missionary Association is not a public institution of learning as defined in §5334 GC”: If it is not such an “institution of learning,” as is defined in §5334, GC, then, of course, the bequest would not be exempt from taxation. This contention is based upon a construction of the language of this section of the Code, and perhaps a recollection of its terms will necessitate again reading from this section:

“The succession to any property passing to or for the use of the State of Ohio, * * * or public institutions of learning within this state * * *”.

Here is recognized an institution of learning within this state as “a public institution”; — or “institutions of learning within any state.” Now, the word “public” is left out;- — “or institutions of learning within any state of the United States which state does not impose an inheritance, estate or transfer tax on property, given, devised or bequeathed by a resident thereof to an institution of learning within this state.” That part of the section which provides for this reciprocity does not use the word "public” as preceding an “institution of learning”. Then follows, “or to or for the use of an institution for purposes only of public charity,” etc. Then we have “charity” defined as “public.” Counsel for plaintiff in error construe this section as being applicable to “institutions of learning” referred to under the law of this State as being public institutions of learning because the preceding clause uses the words “public institutions of learning.” Perhaps some difficulty might have been encountered in construing this section if the word “public” had been used only once, and might then have been construed as applying to all or both of the other purposes. In view of the fact, however, that the section first provides for “public institu[15]*15tions within the State,” and then leaves out the word “public” and simply says “institutions oí learning within any state of the United States which does not impose an inheritance, estate or transfer tax,” etc. — and then, following that, when the language of this section comes back to other provisions so far as this state is concerned or “to or for the use of an institution for purposes only of public charity,” then the word “public” is again inserted; which seems to this court to indicate a purpose to regard a “public institution of learning” in the first instance and of a public charity in the third proposition and omitting the word “public” in' the second proposition referring to another state with the apparent intention not to require the institution of learning within the other state to be a public institution. This construction is further encouraged by reason of the fact that this section previous to its amendment provided for public institutions under all three of these propositions, and in amending leaving out the word “public” from the second or middle proposition, it would seem that this omission was the result of a deliberate purpose not to require those institutions to be public institutions. So that our conclusion upon this proposition is as suggested, that the institutions provided for in this section need not be public institutions as contended for by counsel for the plaintiff in error under the first ground specified, which has been read. We do not wish to be understood in taking this position on this proposition that we are holding that The American Missionary Association is not a public institution of learning. And even should the section be properly construed in that manner, the Supreme Court of Ohio, in Harvard College v State, 106 Oh St, on page 303, held in effect that Harvard College was a public institution of learning, notwithstanding the fact that if is undisputed that it is supported by private endowment and is not a state institution.

The second proposition stated by plaintiff in error is that “said association, with respect to its educational work, is not carrying on said educational work in the State of New York, and that therefore is not ‘within the State which does not impose’, etc.” Our conclusion upon this proposition is briefly this: that the association has its domicile or its situs in the State of New York, and its rights and privileges, its limitations and duties are imposed according to the law of that state, and that it does not necessarily follow because it is incorporated and domiciled in the state of New York that it must carry on its activities in that state, or any considerable part thereof. As may be perhaps hereafter suggested, the very nature of the organization of this Association, the work which it has attempted and duties which it' has assumed logically carries its activities into other states rather than in the state of New York.

The third proposition is,

“That since the said Association may use its funds, and specifically the bequest in the present case, for missionary or religious purposes, at the discretion of its Executive Committee, and the proportion used for educational purposes may be reduced to a minimum, the said institution is not an “institution of learning” as contemplated by §5334, GC.”

It is asserted in the agreed statement of facts in this case that 85 per cent of the disbursements of this Association are for educational purposes, or for the establishment and maintaining of institutions of learning, and we are not sure after a consideration of this case that it might not properly have been said that even a greater percentage of its earnings might properly be considered as being devoted to the purposes of education. So far as this last claimed error is concerned we do not think that this is an important matter for consideration now and the question as to what may be the conduct of this institution in the future, as to whether it may be able or may desire under its charter, for the accomplishment of its intended purpose, to reduce its expenditures for educational purposes to a minimum and devote them more exclusively to other purposes, is a proposition which does not require a determination at this time. In the future, if this organization should deviate from the beaten path of its recognized and established duty and shall engage in work which may be considered properly as ultra vires or otherwise wrongful, then proper action may be invoked for the purpose of preventing it from straying from the path of rectitude and duty under the provisions of its charter. We think that it is sufficient to deal with and consider this proposition under present conditions.

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Bluebook (online)
12 Ohio Law. Abs. 13, 1932 Ohio Misc. LEXIS 1320, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bettman-ex-rel-tax-comm-v-american-missionary-assn-ohioctapp-1932.